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Marl. Oh! how shall I Hastings, you must not go.

in sortirai

support it? Hem! hem!
You are to assist me, you

know. I shall be confoundedly ridiculous. Yet hang it! I'll take courage. Hem!

Hast. Pshaw, man! it's but the first plunge, and all's over. She's but a woman, you know,

Marl. And of all women, she that I dread most to encounter.

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Enter MISS HARDCASTLE, as returning from

walking, in a bonnet, &c.

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Hast. [Introducing him.] Miss Hardcastle-Mr. Marlow. I'm proud of bringing two persons of such merit together, that only want to know, tó esteem each other.mut

ди

Miss Hard. [Aside.] Now, for meeting my modest gentleman with a demure fa face, and quite in his own manner. [After a pause, in which he appears very uneasy and disconcerted.] I'm glad of your safe arrival, sir. I'm told you had some accidents by the

way.

Marl. Only a few, madam.

Yes, we had some. Yes, madam, a good many accidents; but should be sorry-madam-or rather glad of any accidents-that are so agreeably concluded. Hem!

Hast. [To him.] You never spoke better in your whole life. Keep it up, and I'll ensure you the victory. Miss Hard. I'm afraid you flatter, sir. You, that have seen so much of the finest company, can find little entertainment in an obscure corner of the country.

Marl. [Gathering courage.] I have lived, indeed, in the world, madam; but I have kept very little company. I have been but an observer upon life, madam, while others were enjoying it.

Miss Nev. But that, I am told, is the way to enjoy it at last.

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Hast. [To him. Cicero never spoke better. Once more, and you are confirmed in assurance for ever

Marl. [To him.] Hem! Stand by me, then; and when I'm down, throw in a word or two, to set me up again.

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Miss Hard. An observer, like you, upon life, were, I fear, disagreeably employed, since you must have had much more to censure than to approve.

Marl. Pardon me, madam. I was always willing to be amused. The folly of most people is rather an object of mirth than uneasiness. ‹£

Hast. [To him.] Bravo, bravo! Never spoke so well in your whole life. Well! [To MISS HARD.] Miss Hardcastle, I see that you and Mr. Marlow are going to be very good company. I believe our being

here will but embarrass the interview.

We like

Marl. Not in the least, Mr. Hastings. your company of all things. [To him.] Zounds! George, won't go-how can you leave us?

sure you

Hast. Our presence will but spoil conversation, so we'll retire to the next room. [To him.] You don't consider, man, that we are to manage a little tête-à-tête of our own. [Exeunt.

Miss Hard. [After a pause.] But you have not been wholly an observer, I presume, sir: the ladies, I

should hope, have employed some part of your addresses.

Marl. [Relapsing into timidity. Pardon me, madam, I—I—I as yet have studied-only-to-deserve them. mentes keuse väeta

Miss Hard. And that, some say, is the very worst way to obtain them.

Marl. Perhaps so, madam. But I love to converse only with the more grave and sensible part of the sex. But I'm afraid I grow tiresome.

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Miss Hard. Not at all, sir; there is nothing I like so much as grave conversation myself; I could hear it for ever. Indeed, I have often been surprised how a man of sentiment could ever admire those light, airy pleasures, where nothing reaches the heart.

Marl. It's a disease of the mind, madam. In the variety of tastes there must be some, who, wanting a relish-for-uni-a-um.

Miss Hard. I understand you, sir. There must be some, who, wanting a relish for refined pleasures, pretend to despise what they are incapable of tasting.

Marl. My meaning, madam, but infinitely better expressed. And I can't help observing-a

Miss Hard. [Aside.] Who could ever suppose this fellow impudent upon some occasions? [To him.] You were going to observe, sir

Marl. I was observing, madam-I protest, madam, I forget what I was going to observe.

Miss Hard. [Aside.] I vow, and so do I. [To him.] You were observing, sir, that in this age of hypocrisy—something about hypocrisy, sir.

-regar Marl. Yes, madam; in this age of hypocrisy ther are few who, upon strict inquiry, do not-a-a—aMiss Hard. I understand you perfectly, sir.

Marl. [Aside.] Indeed! and that's more than I d myself.

Miss Hard. You mean that, in this hypocritical ag there are few that do not condemn in public what the practise in privato, and think they pay every debt ↑ virtue when they praise it.

Marl. True, madam; those who have most virtue is their mouths have least of it in their bosoms. But I' sure I tire you, madam.

Miss Hard. Not in the least, sir; there's something so agreeable, and spirited, in your manner; such lif and force-pray, sir, go on.

Marl. Yes, madam; I was saying that there ar some occasions when a total, want of courage, madam destroys all the-and puts us-upon a—a—a

Miss Hard. I agree with you entirely; a want of courage upon some occasions, assumes the appearance of ignorance, and betrays us when we most want to excel. I beg you'll proceed.

Marl. Yes, madam; morally speaking, madam-Be I see Miss. Neville expecting us in the next room. I would not intrude for the world.

Miss Hard. I protest, sir, I never was more agree ably entertained in all my life. Pray go on.t Marl. Yes, madam; I was-But she beckons us to join her. Madam, shall I do myself the honour to attend you?

Miss Hard. Well then, I'll follow.

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Marl. [Aside.] This pretty smooth dialogue has

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looked in my face the whole time. Yet the fellow, but wegwi for his unaccountable bashfulness, is pretty well too. He has good sense; but then, so buried in his fears, that it fatigues one more than ignorance. If I could teach him a little confidence, it would be doing somebody, that I know of, a piece of service. But who is that somebody ?-that is a question I can scarce [Exit.

answer.

Enter TONY and MISS NEVILLE, followed by

MRS. HARDCASTLE and HASTINGS.

Tony. What do you follow me for, Cousin Con ? I wonder you're not ashamed to be so very engaging.

Miss Nev. I hope, cousin, one may speak to one's own relations, and not be to blame?

Tony. Ay, but I know what sort of a relation you want to make me, though; but it won't do. I tell you, Cousin Con, it won't do, so I beg you'll keep your distance; I want no nearer relationship.

[She follows, coquetting him to the back-scene. Mrs. Hard. Well! I vow, Mr. Hastings, you are very entertaining. There's nothing in the world I love to talk of so much as London, and the fashions, though I was never there myself.

Hast. Never there! You amaze me!

From your

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